IBDSID Chapter 140

140. Back to One’s Place…

At the Empress’s question, Roselia steadied her expression and answered calmly.

“Wherever the Duke goes is not my concern. I’m not particularly curious either.”

As she spoke, she brought her teacup to her lips with practiced grace. At that moment, Aaron quickly shifted the conversation.

“More importantly, I’d like to hear more about the merchant venture. The Marquess told me you have a remarkable eye for art, especially from your time in Rugbeljet. Were there any standout pieces among the latest imports?”

Noticing Roselia’s mood, the perceptive Crown Prince had subtly changed the subject. In response, Roselia smiled gently and began explaining the artworks she had seen among the merchant goods.

But even as she spoke about art, her mind felt strangely blank—drifting in a fog she couldn’t quite shake.

* * *

Roselia looked across the table at Claucet, who was sipping her tea gracefully.

Claucet had come to visit the Marquess’s estate and, under the pretense of having tea, had been sitting in front of Roselia, hesitating for some time as if trying to find the right moment to speak.

Roselia, sensing this, drank her tea slowly and calmly, as if waiting. Only then did Claucet awkwardly open her mouth.

“Oh, right—Pipi hasn’t been eating lately, and they say she’s lost all her energy. You know who I mean, right? My canary.”

Roselia knew very well.

It was the tiny canary that Klaus had gifted to Claucet—of all the things he’d given her, it was the one she cherished most.

Roselia had wondered why the canary wasn’t around, and was relieved to realize it had been left behind at the duchy.

With the journey taking at least two weeks, it made sense that Claucet hadn’t brought such a delicate creature along, knowing the stress it would suffer.

“You must miss her a lot, especially since she meant so much to you.”

Knowing that both Klaus and Claucet would soon have to return to Rugbeljet, Roselia cautiously brought up the topic, to which Claucet responded while watching her expression carefully.

“Well, I’m sure Melda is taking good care of her. Though I’ve been worried—she hasn’t been eating well since I left the estate…”

Claucet kept glancing at Roselia, trying to gauge her reaction. Roselia simply raised her teacup with a calm expression.

Then, with a more serious look, Claucet finally said what she had come to say.

“Roselia. Klaus and I will be returning to Rugbeljet soon.”

Roselia showed no visible reaction. She merely smiled and replied gently.

“Of course. You’ve both been away from the duchy far too long.”

Her tone was light, as if talking about someone else’s business, and at that, Claucet furrowed her brows and abruptly stood up.

“Come with us, Roselia.”

The directness of the offer widened Roselia’s eyes for a brief moment.

But then she gave a soft smile and gently shook her head.

“Go with you? This is my home.”

“But—!”

Claucet opened her mouth in protest, only to be met with Roselia’s bittersweet smile.

“My family is here.”

The blood relative who searched for her for twenty years—Johannes. The Empress and Crown Prince Aaron, who welcomed her so warmly. And all the people of the Marquess’s estate.

Yes, this was where she belonged.

Roselia quietly reaffirmed it to herself as her expression grew firm.

At her resolute answer, Claucet’s expression darkened.

“My family is you, Roselia…”

At Claucet’s softly murmured words, Roselia turned toward her with a distant look.

Claucet stared down at the floor, and her expression looked as if the slightest touch might bring her to tears.

Caught off guard, Roselia gave her a troubled look, unsure of how to respond. Claucet forced a smile.

“I know I’m being selfish. But I… I just wanted you to come with me…”

Beneath that awkward smile was a quiet desperation.

“…You really won’t, huh?”

Roselia forced herself to move her lips, pretending not to notice the sting in her heart.

“I’ll write… often.”

At Roselia’s faint smile, Claucet smiled back bravely and nodded.

“Okay. I think we’ll leave in about a week, once Alejandro wraps up the hotel business and the rest.”

It seemed Alejandro would once again be left to handle the aftermath of their affairs in Raphelios.

Roselia nodded in understanding, and Claucet, shedding her earlier gloom, lifted her index finger playfully.

“Until we leave, you’re going to have tea with me so often that you’ll get sick of it.”

Roselia burst into laughter at Claucet’s teasing and smiled brightly.

“Of course.”

* * *

Pelton Port was bustling with the final operations of the Benuve and Bellog merchant groups.

Two of Benuve’s ships had already departed in recent days, and today marked the departure of the last.

Most of the wagons from Benuve’s merchant group, which had arrived from the Kingdom of Mule, had already left, with only about half remaining.

Still, the port was packed with people—merchants finishing their final trades and transports, and civilians who had come to browse the goods.

Roselia spotted Bellog, busily scurrying about on his short limbs, barking orders left and right.

For once, Roselia wasn’t dressed in her usual gowns. Instead, she wore active-fit knee pants—an outfit similar to women’s riding attire, typically worn by noblewomen when engaging in sports like horseback riding or hunting.

“Marquis Bellog, are you busy?”

At the sound of Roselia’s familiar voice, Bellog turned—and momentarily froze upon seeing her.

It wasn’t just the riding outfit. What caught his attention most was her short hair. Since revealing her identity, she had always worn a long wig. But now, just like when she’d gone by Antonio, her short hair was exposed.

Roselia, catching his dazed expression, self-consciously reached up to touch the ends of her hair.

Since she hadn’t cut it after revealing she was a woman, it had grown out a bit and now reached just past her ears.

It wasn’t quite a bob, but its ambiguous length gave her a striking, androgynous aura.

“It’s kind of nice to see you like this again.”

Bellog, recovering his composure, offered a playful remark. Roselia responded with an awkward smile.

“The wig was stuffy. This is more comfortable.”

Even so, the outfit she wore now was vastly different from the men’s clothing she’d used to wear while hiding her identity.

The fitted jacket that cinched her waist, the fine decorative touches lovingly stitched by Eva, the tight leather knee-pants that showed off her long legs, and the high-heeled boots—all clearly highlighted her femininity.

Not long ago, she wouldn’t have dared dress like this, fearing the scrutiny of the concubine faction, who would’ve jumped at any chance to criticize her.

But with Alphonse deposed and the concubine faction weakened, there was no need to tread so carefully anymore.

This place felt like home now. She wanted to be more herself—perhaps to remind herself that this truly was where she belonged.

“You’re stunning no matter what you wear, Lady Roselia.”

Bellog’s flattering remark made Roselia chuckle softly.

“Today’s the last day of trade with Benuve, right? Is there anything I can help with?”

Roselia asked with hands on her hips and a confident stance, which made Bellog flail in panic.

“Oh no, no—no matter how shorthanded we are, we could never ask Lady Roselia to help with labor!”

“I may not look like it, but I do have experience working as a servant.”

“Still, I’d prefer you help in another way. For example… maybe you could keep Prince Asif company over there—he’s like a starved lion today.”

Roselia looked over, puzzled, following Bellog’s discreet gesture.

Prince Asif stood nearby, visibly tense and short-tempered, picking a fight with one of the Benuve shipmen.

Just as Bellog had said, he wore the expression of a lion who hadn’t eaten in days—sharp and on edge.

Seeing Bellog’s expression shift from troubled to desperate, Roselia let out a reluctant sigh and offered a faint, reassuring smile, as if to say “Just leave it to me,” before heading over.

“Your Highness. Don’t you have anything better to do?”

At the familiar voice from close by, Asif flinched and turned his head.

There stood Roselia, short-haired and dressed in active knee pants, arms crossed as she stared him down.

“Antonio…?”

Asif blinked, momentarily thrown off by the familiar image, then quickly corrected himself, averting his gaze.

“Roselia. What are you doing here?”

For a brief second, he had seen the Antonio he remembered—but shaking it off, he put on a gruff tone.

“Today’s the departure of the last Benuve ship, isn’t it? As a broker for the merchant venture, I figured I should at least check in.”

Roselia replied, then cast a sidelong glance at Asif, casually letting her next words slip out.

“Aren’t you going back to Benuve?”

The coronation ceremony had ended, and although the festivities celebrating the Crown Prince’s ascension were still ongoing, there was no real need for Asif to remain until the end.

Since he had come with the merchant fleet, Roselia had assumed he’d return with the last ship—and she looked at him, puzzled.

Asif clicked his tongue slightly, the bitterness evident in his expression as he replied,

“Why? You want me to leave?”

“I wouldn’t say that, but… you don’t really have a reason to stay anymore, do you?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

With that, Asif suddenly leaned in close, bringing his face just inches from hers.

“Did you forget our promise? You said you’d come with me to Benuve.”

His words were more than enough to cause misunderstanding, and Roselia’s face flushed red as she stepped back.

“When did I say that?”

At her slight frown, Asif smirked mischievously.

“Am I cutting out too much context? You forgot that in exchange for Zahart’s painting, you agreed to meet my sister?”

“Oh…”

Roselia’s expression went blank as the memory returned. Asif followed up, voice laced with meaning.

“You said once Prince Aaron’s coronation was safely over, you’d come with me.”

Roselia shot him a sideways glare and corrected him plainly.

“I said once the coronation was over and things had settled down.”

“Alphonse has been deposed. Isn’t now the perfect time?”

At his sharp question, Roselia lowered her gaze and answered stiffly.

“Not yet.”

With Aaron newly crowned and the dust of Alphonse’s downfall still unsettled, it wasn’t time to step away just yet.

Truthfully… maybe that was just an excuse.

Maybe she simply wanted to stay a little longer—to see the final moments before Klaus and Claucet returned to Rugbeljet.

As if reading her thoughts, Asif responded coldly.

“I heard Duke Valtazar is returning to Rugbeljet soon…”

Roselia looked at him in surprise.

There was something almost angry in his eyes.

“He can’t be away from the duchy forever, can he?”

Roselia answered calmly, unfazed.

“He’s just going back to where he belongs.”

At her curt reply, Asif’s lips curled slightly.

“I told you I’d dig my way in if I saw an opening…”

He muttered the words, unclear who they were meant for.

Before Roselia could respond, a deep voice rang out from behind them—low and heavy.

“There hasn’t been an opening yet.”